Soooooo Not Frugal

[AmyBoz]

So, I'm a public school teacher. I buy most of my supplies out of my own pocket throughout the school year. (Yes, yes...before the teacher bashing begins, you can write some of it off on your taxes, but not all.)

Anyway, when I do my unit on Ancient Greece, I break the kids up into city-states and they learn in these group situations. There are academic competitions and contests, and then points are given for all homework in by a group, extra points for dressing the same, creating a shield for your city-state, doing extra research assignments, etc. To motivate the kids, I told them that each kid in the city-state would get a prize. Typical to eighth graders, they said, "What kind of prize? A pencil?" I promised it would be a good prize.

So, today, I bought each kid on each winning city-state a $5 gift card to Barnes and Noble (gotta be educational...even with the prize ) The rub in it all??? There were 25 winners...$125!!! Gulp. I think I'll need to pick up a few extra piano students. I walked out of Barnes and Noble in a bit of a daze, but I feel good that they get rewarded for their hard work and that the only thing they can buy is something they have to read (book, magazine ) or write with (pen, journal).

[alarosalpn]

Wow! Sorry your wallet took a hit but that is a great prize!

[itsahumanzoo]

All in the name of education!

[Frugal Nurse]

that is SHOCKING that the PTO can't help out with that.

And what a fun teacher you are!

[baxjul]

That is so nice! Do you have any parents that give you extra money? I'm only asking because I always donate to my dd's class, at the beginning of the year, and at New Year's time.

[DonnainME]

You sound like a great teacher.

[AmyBoz]

We get a small allowance in November to purchase supplies for the next school year. So, in September, I'll get supplies that I ordered last November. The money is just enough to get pens, pencils, paper, a grade book, and a calendar. The paper is usually gone by December, and I've set up a system in my room for borrowing pens and pencils. You want to borrow one, you have to exchange something valuable, like a cell phone or iPod (neither of which they are supposed to have in school anyway). I know they aren't leaving my room without their cell phone, so I know they also aren't leaving my room with my pen. It's the only way I've not had to continually keep purchasing pens and pencils throughout the year.

We don't ask for kids to bring in donations at the middle school level, but I know I send in stuff for my dd's school, and she's in first grade.

The PTO (in our school they are the HSA Home and School Association) is actually quite generous in other ways. For example, tomorrow they are hosting the eighth grade yearbook signing party. They are bringing in bagels and cream cheese and butter and juice for the kids to have while they sign yearbooks outside on the field. They also donated some funds for a few of our students who couldn't afford the Washington, DC trip. Truth be told, I'd rather they do that and me buy my own supplies because that stuff is very meaningful for the kids.

[inneedofhope]

Not sure if your employee would allow, but I often ask for donations from local businesses for prizes and such. I wonder if Barnes & Noble would have given you a discount or even donated the gift cards? Usually I just write a letter, and ask in person.
Have you looked into any grants for your class for next year? Very time consuming, but you might be able to pull in a small grant for a special project.
As for the pencils- here's an idea- couch it in recycling and reusing and ask students to bring in excess pencils from home. My ds has a billion pencils, from the Dr.s office, fairs, etc. I could supply a classroom with our collection! Same with pens, lots of people have tons of pens around the house.
I commend your efforts- that sounds like a great lesson you'll be giving, kids learn so much by actually participating in activities.

[momishem]

I, too, work in the public school system. I am also the treasurer of our schools PTA (for the last 9 years) We get requests for extra funds for stuff like this all the time. We also give an allotment at the beginning of each year. We raise money to help offset some of the things that our school system cannot afford. Maybe it won't help for these purchases, but keep that in mind for next time.

[Michelle]

Does B & N give educator's discounts? Now that I think of it, they may give them but not on GC's.

Anyway, I think that's a wonderful prize...better than a pencil and still educational

[Libby]

The asking for donations sounds like a great idea - from outside sources...stores etc. But the school may have a policy against that unless its a specific fund raising event etc.

Amy - you're a WONDERFUL teacher to offer to do that, all out of your own pocket. Where were the kind teachers like you when we had to learn things like that? LOL

But you said they'd only be able to buy a pen, journal or a magazine with their $5 voucher. Ahem...this IS a frugal village is it not? Could they not have saved up their pennies and pair the cash savings with the voucher to buy something 'bigger'? Im sure there are plenty of frugal parents out there who've instilled these common sense values into their children. Either way, everyone is happy.

[mom2matty]

You are an awesome teacher........great prizes!!

[AmyBoz]

As for grants, we have the Morris Educational Foundation which provides grants to large classroom projects that directly affect student achievement. For example, last year, I applied for a $3000 grant to purchase historical fiction novels for my classroom in an effort to integrate Language Arts Literacy and World History. (I teach History) So, I now have a classroom library of historical fiction. I have class sets of some of the novels that we read together as a class, and I have a lending library of other titles that the kids can borrow and return. It has really upped the reading levels of the kids in my unit and the parents have had nothing but positive feedback about how excited their kids are about reading. However, the grants are only for projects such as this. Specifically NOT for supplies.

I'm thinking of writing a letter to Staples in August to see if they'll donate a flash drive to each eighth grader in September. Our server is old and slow and if the kids could each have a flash drive on which to save their work, it would make it SO much easier to utilize technology. They are about $5 for a lower memory one, so I don't know if they'll do it (we have 330 eighth graders) but it doesn't hurt to ask!

[Tater]

WOW! I'm a teacher also, and I know how much planning and time go into creating and teaching a unit like that!! I bet you are a fabulous teacher (and those are hard to come by in middle school - trust me!).

[earthymom]

Wow -- you sound like a wonderful teacher -- the kind my dd is studying to be.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

When my son was in Middle School, his teacher had them make a "travel/tourist guide" to Ancient Greece. It was a fun project for him (and for me).

I wish I'd had teachers like you when I was in school.

Again, thank you. I think the PTO and the school board should help.

Teachers like you are proof that vocation is more than a career. It's a passion. It's a calling. It's something bigger than yourself that is important.

Some day, one of your students will remember you as they contemplate their life's successes. Know that and smile.